Down Syndrome: symptoms during pregnancy, causes

12 April, 2016

Every child, regardless of the problems that may arise, should be loved and cherished by their parents.In this article I want to tell you about how pregnancy occurs the child with Down syndrome and what difficulties you may experience.

few words about the disease

The disease got its name in honor of the doctor who examined him - John Langdon Down.He began his medical work in the distant 1882, the results published in 4 years.What can we say about the disease?Thus, a pathology that has a chromosomal nature: a malfunction occurs in the process of cell division.Scientists have shown that babies born with Down syndrome, there is an additional, 47th chromosome (in healthy people, each cell has 46 chromosomes, which carry important genetic information).If it is easier to say, people with this diagnosis are considered to be mentally retarded (though so they should not be called according to the moral and ethical standards).

Facts

basic facts about the disease:

Down Syndrome Pregnancy equally affe

cts both boys and girls.

Statistics: 1,100 healthy children born 1 baby with this syndrome.

March 21 - Day of solidarity with people who have Down syndrome.It is interesting that the date was not chosen by chance.After the cause of the disease - trisomy of chromosome 21 (the number 21, the serial number of the month - 3).

People with this diagnosis may live up to 60 years.And thanks to the contemporary developments in the state to conduct a full life is quite normal (they know how to read, write, participate in public life).

disease has no boundaries or risk groups.Such a child may be born of a woman, regardless of level of education, social position, color or health status.

reasons

consider further the theme: "Down syndrome: signs of pregnancy."What reasons can contribute to this disease?So, as has been said above, it is responsible for all extra 47th chromosome.All the processes that lead to the syndrome to occur at the time of formation of intrauterine fetal during cell division.Modern experts say it is random chromosomal mutations that do not depend on external factors.

risk groups and statistics

risk of Down's syndrome in pregnancy varies for different groups of women:

20-25 years.The risk of symptoms the child is equal to 1/1562.

25-35 years.Risk increases: 1/1000.

35-39: 1/214.

over 45 years.Risk of the maximum high.In this case, 19 children a baby is born with Down syndrome.

As dads, here the findings of physicians are not so clear.However, most experts say that a great opportunity to conceive a "sunny child" has fathers whose age more than 42 years.

tests

Modern scientists have invented a special test by which you can eliminate the risk of Down's syndrome in pregnancy.In this case, the woman will have to answer the following critical questions:

Age.

Ethnicity.

Bad habits (smoking).

body weight.

presence of diabetes.

number of pregnancies.

Conception Are the IVF procedure.

However, it's worth to say that thanks to one only test program is one hundred percent to exclude the risk of this syndrome baby is impossible.To do this, use the additional funds.

How do you know?

continue further discussion on the topic: "Down syndrome: signs of pregnancy."As already mentioned above, this pathology has a genetic nature.Therefore, you can learn about it at a time when the baby is in the process of fetal development.What kind of research in such a case will be relevant?

ultrasound.It should first be carried out in a period of from 11 to 13 weeks.In such a case will be examined nuchal baby that will make it possible to say about whether there is the pathology of the child (in the ultrasound can be seen fold excess or permissible thickness of the neck area is more than 3 mm)

analysis of the mother's blood.To do so would be to donate blood from a vein.If the fetus has a pathology, the mother will be an increased level of β-subunit of hCG (it will be more than 2 IOM).

Analysis of plasma.The risk of having the syndrome in the unborn child may be the case if the measure PAPP-A is less than 0.5 MoM.

It is said that this study is called "combined screening analysis" (or the first screening test).Only in combination can produce results that are correct at 86%.

Additional research

So, Down's syndrome, the symptoms of pregnancy.US - as a method of research - for the resolution of the exact diagnosis is simply not enough.If the first screening shows that the baby has the cider, the expectant mother doctor may advise just one study (it is needed in case the lady is going to decide on abortion).It transcervical amnioscopy.During this procedure will provide samples of chorionic villi, which will go to the lab for a thorough treatment.The results in this case is 100% correct.An important point: this procedure can be dangerous to a child's life, therefore, taking a decision, parents should think twice about it.Doctors compel a woman to this study can not.

second screening

Exploring further the theme: "Down syndrome: signs of pregnancy."So important while carrying the baby would be also a second screening.It is held in the second trimester, between the 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy.Symptoms of the syndrome in the study of the mother's blood:

hCG level above 2 MoM.

AFP levels less than 0.5 MoM.

Free estriol - less than 0.5 MoM.

inhibin A - 2 IOM.

Also important will be ultrasound diagnosis:

fruit size smaller than normal.

shortening or absence of the nasal bone in a child.

shortening of the femur and humerus.

baby's upper jaw size is smaller than normal.

umbilical artery baby will be one instead of two.

urinary bladder of the fetus will be increased.

The child is most often observed palpitations.

women may have oligohydramnios.Alternatively, the amniotic fluid may be absent.

Abortion

What else should know women who are considering the theme: "Down syndrome: signs of pregnancy?"Thus, the decline in abortion no one can.This should be good to remember.The doctor can only recommend the following steps:

Pregnancy and disposal of fetal pathology.

give birth, no matter what, the kid with special needs (in this case, need not only more power, but also a means).

Deciding on how events will develop further, can only parents of the child.

About mother

So Down syndrome.Signs of pregnancy, well, just about anything that identifies a given disease, are present.Why will I feel during the gestation of the baby that's special about the expectant mother?Nothing unusual.On the external condition and health of the woman is absolutely no impact.Ieeverything that happens with other pregnant will happen with my mother, whose unborn child has the disease.So only one of their appearance or presence of certain symptoms a woman can not be said about whether her baby deviations.

probabilities

consider further pathology such as Down syndrome.During pregnancy, especially if you put a specific diagnosis, many parents ask: if one child is born with a pathology, is there any chance of having a second baby without deviation?There are two options:

If the child is the typical tripling of chromosome 21, the probability of a subsequent pregnancy with the same pathology - 1%.

If it is inherited from mom or dad translocation form, the probability is higher.However, exact figures have no doctors.

Oh baby

Perhaps not everyone knows that children with this pathology is called "solar kids."For these people there is mental retardation (can range from mild to more complex forms).But this is not a sentence.Thanks to modern programs of education and development scientists, such children can lead a very normal life.If done correctly, the child not only can, but also quite able to learn how to write, read.These children, like all the others, like "go out", to walk, to look at something new, bright and beautiful.In big cities there are special centers where kids having such a diagnosis, are engaged.There are even some schools for patients with Down syndrome.Undoubtedly, the person with the diagnosis sometimes can not do without help, it should be remembered.Therefore, if the fetus is found Down's syndrome during pregnancy, parents should carefully weigh the pros and cons to make the right decision.